What to do after a stab wound (first aid)

The most important precaution after a stab wound is to avoid removing the knife or any object that is still inserted into the body, as there is a high risk of worsening the bleeding or causing further damage to internal organs.

So, when someone is stabbed, what you should do is:

1. Do not remove the knife or other object that is inserted into the body;
2. Apply pressure around the wound with a clean cloth to try to stop the bleeding. If possible, gloves should be worn to avoid coming into direct contact with blood;
3. Call medical help immediatelycalling 192.

If, during the period in which the ambulance does not arrive, the person becomes very pale, cold or dizzy, they should lie down and try to elevate their legs above the level of their heart, so that the blood can reach the brain more easily.

However, this can also increase bleeding from the wound and so it is very important to maintain pressure around the wound, at least until the medical team arrives.

Furthermore, if the person has been stabbed more than once, the wound that is bleeding the most should be treated first, to try to stop bleeding that could be life-threatening.

What to do if the knife has already been removed

If the knife has already been removed from the body, what you should do is apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, to try to stop the bleeding until medical help arrives.

What to do if the person stops breathing

If the person stabbed stops breathing, it should be assessed whether there is any bleeding that is not stopping bleeding. If there is, pressure must be maintained on the area to prevent blood from continuing to escape.

However, if there is no wound that is bleeding heavily, basic life support should begin with cardiac massage, which should be continued until the person can breathe again, until medical help arrives or until exhaustion. See the step-by-step guide to perform a cardiac massage correctly.

If there is another person available, ask them to maintain pressure on the wound while performing compressions, to prevent blood from escaping through the wound.

How to treat a stab wound

After hemorrhage and damage to internal organs, infection is one of the main causes of death in people stabbed. For this reason, if the bleeding has stopped after applying pressure to the area, it is very important to take care of the wound. To do this, you must:

• Remove any type of dirt that is close to the wound;
• Wash the wound with saline solutionto remove excess blood;
• Cover the wound with a sterile compress.

When caring for the wound, it is very important, if possible, to use gloves not only to avoid transmitting bacteria to the wound, but also to protect yourself from contact with blood. See how to make a bandage correctly.

Even after stopping the bleeding and dressing the wound, it is very important to go to the hospital to assess whether any important organ is affected and whether it is necessary to start using an antibiotic, for example.